Brake control system



Filed March 6, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet J,

R o N E V N n v m m. M t m MN q 9 p 1, ...o Q@ m.

L L E N H x E V E ATTORNEY June 17. 1947. I 5 sCHNELL 2,422,370

BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEM Filed March 6, 1944 2 Sheets$heet 2 v I TORNE- Patented June 17,

,UNITED STATES PATEN 2,422,310 BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEM Steve Schnell, Kirkwo'od, Mo., assignor to Wagner Electric Corporation, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Delaware T OFFICE Application March 6, 1944, Serial No. 525,136 9 Claims. (01. map-151) brake control system of the type described by the' use of separate units and thereby facilitate the association of the system with thebr'ake to be controlled. I

Still another object of my invention is to provide certain brake control units which when associated withfluid pressure controlled units already being employedin controlling a brake will produce an improved brake control system of the type referred to.

Other objects of my invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a view of an industrial brake having a control system embodying my invention associated therewith; Figure 2 is a longitudinalsectional view of the unit embodying the brake applying spring and the fluid pressure motor for compressing it; and Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the solenoid-operated holding valve unit.

Referring to the drawings in detail and first to Figure 1, numeral I indicates a base upon which two levers 2 and 3 carrying brake shoes 4 and 5, respectively, are pivoted. These brake shoes are provided with linings B and l for cooperation with a drum 8 rotatable with a; shaft 9 forming a part of any industrial mechanism, uch as a crane, winch, or the like, said shaft being driven by a source of power, such-as an electric motor. The upper end of lever 2 has pivoted thereon intermediate itsends a long L-shaped lever I extending across the top of the brake assembly. The

end of this lever is connected to the upper, end of lever 3 'by' means ofa link I I. The link II and lever Ill may be adjusted by a suitable mechanism shown as nuts It threaded upon link II and cooperating with a member l3 forming part of the pivotal connection between link II and lever 1.,

When lever I0 is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow, levers 2 and 3'will be moved toward each other and the brake shoes applied. When lever I0 is moved in the opposite direction, the

brake shoes will be released. A light retracting spring I4 is connected between levers l0 and 3 to aid in the release.

Thesystem embodying my invention and employed to control the brake Just described comy prises a fluid motor unit A for applying the brake by fluid pressure,,a combined spring applying and fluid motor controlling unit B, a solenoid-controlled valve unit C, and a source. of fluid pressure D which, in this particular instance, is a manually-operated master cylinder device of known construction The fluid motor unit A comprises a cylinder l5 in which a piston I6 is reciprocable. The piston is pivotally connected to a projection H. on lever 3 and cylinder [5 is arranged to abut the outer end or lever l0 being held in proper abutting position by links l8 (one only being shown) which are pivotally connected to .a part of unit B. The

cylinder is connected by a conduit l9 withthe out let conduit 20 of the master cylinder device D. Thus it is seen that when fluid pressure is developed by the master cylinder device, they cylinder and piston will be moved relatively apart and lever I0 rotated in the direction of the arrow to apply the brakes. When fluid pressure is released by the -master .cylinder device, the retracting spring It will release the brake shoes. The fluid motor unitA is the same unit as now being employed to apply and release industrial brakes.

However, the cylinder is not connected directlyto lever I0, as is present practice, but is arranged to 1 be in abutting relation as described in order to permit lever H! to be operated without any movement of cylinder l5 of unit A.

Referring now to both Figures 1 and 2, the combined spring applying and fluid motorcontrolling unit B will be described in detail. This unit comprises a cylinder 2| having a piston 22 therein to which is connected a piston rod '23. The piston rod extends out of theupper end of thecylinder where it is connected to the outer end of lever It] by a connecting member 24, this connecting member being the part to which the link [8 are 1 connected. The lower end of the cylinder is closed by a cap 25 in which is screwed a bearing v plug 28 for pivotally mounting the lower 'end of the cylinder on a pin 21 carried by a bracket 28 on the base of the brake. The lower end of the cylinder ahead of the piston is in communication with the atmosphere by way of a passage 29 and a small drilled hole 30 in the plug. Associated with the passage 29 is an air cleaner 3 I.

the brake.

Associated with"this partition and the rod is a nular shoulder 39 on the exterior of cylinder 2| is a strong coil spring 40 in surrounding relation to the upper end of the cylinder. Thus this spring acts to force the piston rod upwardly and to apply the brake. A sleeve 41 is secured to col- 7 lar 38 and telescopes over the end of the cylinder in order to provide protection for the rod bear ing in the upper end of the cylinder whenever the rod is moved upwardly.

7 If no fluid under pressure is in chamber 34 of The chamber has an inlet noid is pulled downwardly into engagement with the extension 41 as the result of energization of the coil 43. When energization takes place, the

conical valve elementswill be pulled down and engaged with the conical passage through the sealing element 59 to thus close off communication between chamber 55 and conduit 55 so that fluid can be trapped in chamber 34 of unit B. -A spring 65 normally1biases the packing element shoulder 57.

and the annular disc against the shoulder 51. When seated by the movement of armature 62 of the'solenoid, the conical valve 6| will pickup the annular disc and move it slightly away from Thus there is provided a yieldable valve seat which will permit the armature of thesolenold to always be brought into abutment with extension 46 to permit maximum holding power of the solenoid whenever the valve is to be held closed. When the valve element is seated,

the unit B, spring 40 can expand from the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 and as a result thereof, move piston rod 23 upwardly and apply the brake and maintain it applied by the force which is exerted by the spring. In the event- .suflicient fluid under pressure should be introduced into chamber 34, it'will cause movement of piston 22 downwardly, thereby compressing spring 40to the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 and releasing the brake. If the fluid under pressure in chamber 34 should be trapped therein," the brake will continue to be maintained in released condition.

it ,willprevent fluid from flowing therepast in the direction of the master cylinder device. It

willvnot, however,- prevent fluid from flowing in the opposite direction as fluid under. pressure can move the packing element 59 slightly downwardly and thus allow fluid to pass .the valve element. r v V Referring to the operation of the control system, the parts thereof will be in the positions shown in Figure 1 when the circuit with which 7 the solenoid-controlled valve unit 0 is associated is opened and no fluid pressure is being developed by the master cylinder device.

open condition of the valve unit Cisshown in ,v

V Figure v3. With'the valve open, no fluid will be Referring now to Figure 3', the solenoid-con-- I trolled valve unit has for its purpose the trapping of fluid under pressure in chamber 34 of the unit B under certainconditions. This unit C comprises a cylindrical casing 42 in. which is mounted the coil 43 of the solenoid, this coil be;-

ing in surroundin'gfrelation to a tubular element 44 extending through the 'centeroi thevcasing;

-,andapply pressure to lever ID to apply. the brakes; 1 2 I trapped in chamber 34 of the combined spring applying and fluid motor controlling unit D and r a consequently, the' stron'g spring'w can expand When the brakes areappliedby spring 40, piston 22 willbe in the] position shown in dotted lines inFigure'2; Since the circuit for the valve unit C is int'endedtobe associated witha main circuit of an electric motorof the industrial ap- The lower end of'the casing is closed by a plug 45 which has an --extension 46 extending-, into the tubular-ele'ment'44, said extensipnb'eing formed with a passage 41 which, leads to a'connector element 48 -whic h connects said passage with the previously referred; to conduit which is connected to unit B; 'I'he terminals 49 and 50 of the. coil extend into ,a chamber-5| in plug 1 tion;

45 and from there they are connected to the conductors 52 and 53' (Figural) which in turn are connected to the circuitionfthe motor which drives shaft 9 and carries 'thebrake 8 of The upper end I thereon a secondary casing 54whichhas a cylindrical chamber 55 connected with a conduit 55 leading to the outlet-conduit of the master, cylinder deviceD. In chamber 55'-is an annular I shoulder 51 with which'cooperates anannular rigid disc'58 forming the backingior an annular packing element 59 provided with afconicalcemtral passage 50. Cooperating" with this annular passage is a conical valve element 6| connected to the armature 62 of the solenoid, said armatur 3 being positioned within the tubular element 4 4-- and being slightly smaller in diameter in order,

to provide a space for flow of fluid'through-the that fluid can flow-from passage 41 to the tubu-- lar element when the armature 62 of the sole of gang! 4 2; has threaded in tubular element. The lower endof the armature. member isv provided with an axial passage 63;" communicating with a cross passage 64 in order paratus'wi th'which the brake is to be used, then the main circuit will also be open and the electricl motor operated parts of the industrial apw paratus will be held braked. When the main circuit of the electric motor is closed, the solenoid V 'circuitrof the valve unit C will also be closed and y Y thus the valve-element moved to closed posixIn orderto release-the brakes when the; 8015-,

noid is energized all that is necessaryis 'to operate the master cylinder deviae fi and iorce fluid pressure .into conduits l9 [and 5B, z1 'luid pres.- sure entering the fluid vmotor i rwill beeflective to L continueto'hold'the brakes applied. Thefluid pressure which enters conduit 56f will be. forced past the valve element 5i (the-cup 58 being forced away from the v'alveelement against the action, of the light spring'85l and'thus' flow through the 1 valve unit'C to chamber 34 oi'unit Brand become 7 eifective on" piston 22. 'Ihis will causethejpiston 22 to be moved downwardly to the position shown strong'spring 40 and releasing its force from lever f l0.'-All the fluid underpressureforcedinto chamber 34 will be; tra'ppedfslnceilitt cannot return i, through the. valve unit C'aslong aslth'e solenoidis i energized. 'Ifhusthe'strong' spring!" .will be held in full lines in Figure ,2, thereby compressing the in a." depressedicondition hen: the; master cylinder device is releasedigflUp cylinder device" amends; the fluid motor A will f be released andconsedue itly, all pressure acting on lever ID to hold the brakes applied will also be The n r'elease of the master -;-5 :1 v

released. Retracting spring I4 is now effective to release the brakes;

When the brake applying force of the strongspring 40 is nullified, the brakes may be applied and released at will by merely operating the master cylinder device. Whenever fluid pressure is developed by the master cylinder device, the fluid motor A will be operated and the brakes applied. When the master cylinder device is released, the brakes will be permitted to be released by the retracting spring l4. should again open the main circuit with which the solenoid circuit of the valve unit C is asso- Whenever the operator have its spring act on the lever to apply the brake and its motor whenoperated to disable the brake applying action of the spring, conduit means for connecting'the motor with the source of fluid pressure so, as to be actuated by fluid under pressure therefrom, and a controllingvalve unit separate from the first unit and interposed in the conduit means, said valve unit comprising a valve means when closed for permittingfluid under pressure toflow to the motor oithe first unit and actuate itto disable the spring but preventing return'flow of'fluid and'means jor holding the valve means closed.

3. In combination with a brake having a brake applying lever and control means therefor comprising a fluid motor connected to the lever and a source of fluid pressure for controlling the motor, a combined spring and fluid motor unit associated with the. lever, said unit being arranged to'have its spring act on the lever to apply the brake and its motor when operated to disable the brake applying action of the spring, conduit means for connecting'the the master cylinder device since, whenever the master cylinder device is operated, the strong spring 40 will be compressed but simultaneously therewith fluid under pressure will be admitted to the fluid motor A and cause it to act to hold the brakes applied.

By the use of the various units the present industrial brake which is actuated only by the fluid motor A, for example, may be readily modified so as to provide for" the automatic spring application of the brakes whenever the main electric motor circuit of an industrial apparatus is opened. The unit B may be easily attached to the support I and lever land the motor A arranged to abut lever l0 and held in abutting relation by the links l8. The solenoid-controlled valve unit C may be placed in any accessible space and connected to the master cylinder device and unit B by the conduits 56 and,31.

Being aware of the possibility of modifications in the particular structure herein described without departing from the fundamental principles of my invention, I do not intend that its scope be limited except as set forth by the appended claims.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a brake controlling system, a brake, a fluid motor unit for actuating the brake, a source of fluid pressure connected to the motor, a combined sprin and fluid motor unitseparate from the flrst named fluid motor unit, said last named unit having its spring connected to transmit a brake applying force to the brake and its fluid motor so associated with the spring that upon operation thereof the spring will be conditioned so that its force cannot be transmitted to apply the brake, conduit means connecting the fluid motor of the unit to the pressure source, and a solenoid,- controlled valve unit separate from the other units and associated with conduit means .for trapping fluid under pressure in the motor of the combined spring and motor unit.

2. In combination with a brake having a brake applying lever and control means therefor comprising a fluid motor connected to the lever and a source of fluid pressure for'controlling the motor, a combined spring and fluid motor unit associated with the lever, said unit being arranged to motor with the'source' of fluid pressure so asto be actuated by fluid under pressure therefrom,

and a solenoid-controlled valve unit interposed in the conduitjmeans, said last named unit com-' prising a valve element for trapping fluid under pressure in the motor. of the first named unit and a solenoid for holding the valve element closed.

4. In a brake controlling system, a brake, hav--- ing a support and an actuating lever, a, fluid motor for actuating the brake lever, a source of fluid pressure connected to the motor, a combined spring and fluid motor unit separate from the first named fluid motor. said'unit comprising a, cylinder connected at one end to the support, a piston in the cylinderfia piston"rod-extending from the other end of the cylinder and connected to the lever, meansforming a fluid-tight chamher in the cylinder on the piston rod side of the piston, and a coiled spring interposed between the cylinder and a shoulder on the piston rod and. acting through the piston rod to move the lever to a brake applying position, conduit means connecting the chamber of the unit to the source of fluid pressure so that the piston can be moved to compress the spring, and valve means lnter posed in the conduit means for trapping fluid under pressure in the chamber. a

5. In a brake controlling system, a brake having a support and 'an actuating lever, pa fluid '7 motor for actuating the brake lever, a source of fluid pressure connected to the motor, a com bined spring and fluid motor unit separate from the first named fluid motor, said unit comprising a cylinder connected at one end to the support, a piston in the cylinder, 9, piston rod extending from the other end of the cylinder and connected-to the lever, means forming a fluidtight chamber in the cylinder on the piston rod side of the piston, a coiled spring interposed between the cylinder and a shoulder on the piston the movable valve element engaged with the seat element, said movable valve element being arwhich is greater than that in the" chamber.

6. In a controlling system for, a brake having,

a base support and an actuating levervpositioned spring surrounding the piston rod and interposed between the cylinder and ashoulder on the piston rod and'acting through the pistonrod, to move the lever to a brake applying position,

ranged to be moved bythe solenoid toengagethe seat by a movement in the direction of flow of fluid under pressure to the chamber and, the yieldable valve seat being capable of. movement 1 away from the movable'valve element when in j seated position by a fluid pressure from the source asource of fluid pressure, conduit means con-,v

I necting the chamber of the unit to-the source of fluid pressure so that-the piston can be moved to compress the spring, and valve meansinterposed in the conduit means for trapping fluid under pressure in the chamber. g 1

7. In a brake controlling mechanism, a brake; a pressure fluid motor for actuating said brake; a source of pressure fluidto operate said motor; a spring to apply said brake; a second pressure fluid motor operable by said sourceto compress said spring and release it fromsaid brake; valve means to-retain fluid under pressure in said second motor to thereby maintain said springcompressed; a solenoid to close said valve, sa-idvalve opening when said solenoid is de-energized thereby allowing said spring to apply said brake; and said first pressure fluid motor. normally -operat-.

ever said solenoid is energized.

ing said brake motor when said solenoid is ener gized. c

8. Ina brake controlling mechanism; a brake; a pressure fluid motor to actuate said brake; a source of pressurefiuid to actuate said motor; a spring to apply said brake,.a second pressure fluid motor connectable to said source'fof pres sure fluid. to energize said gspring'g a'valve to re-' tain fluid under pressureinsaid second motor to maintain said spring energized; a solenoid to l operate'said valve, said valve opened'when said solenoid is de-energized. and closed when said solenoid is energized;'and said fi rstapressure fluid motor normally operating said-brake motor .whena lever to actuate saidrbrake; a motor to actuatesa-id lever; a source of pressurevfluidjfor said motor; means to form a fluid-tight chamber in said motor; a coil spring associated with said motor to-apply ,force to said lever to thereby apply said brake, said chamber when;filled;with

fluid under pressure energizing said'spring to release said brake; valve means to control said fluidtight chamber; and a solenoid" to actuate said valve to closed position, said valve being open 7 when said solenoid is inoperative.

STEVE :SCHNELL. REFERENCES one! f 'The following references are of record in the file of thispatent: v UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,215,546 Dick Sept. 24,1940 2,258,784 McNeal -Oct, 14, 1941 2,258,756 Gray -Oct.- 14, 1944 2,211,890 Farmer Aug. 20,- 1940 2,282,615 Spalding May 12, 1942 brake controlling mechanism, a brake; 

